Instrument panel



Aug. 7, 1928.

A. CHAMPION INSTRUMENT PANEL Filed Oct. 7, 1925 latented Aug. 7, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.ALBEBT CHAMPION, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN, ASSGNR T A C SPARK 1LUG COMPANY,015 FLINT, MICHIGN, A COMPANY OIE MICHIGAIN.

INSTRUMENT PANEL.

Application filed October 7, 1925. Seral No. 61,037.

.lhs invention relates to means for sup plementing the instrumentcarrying capacity v raised portion is removed the panel found of aninstrument board. Its field of use- :fulness is obviously not limited tothe specific application herein shown and described, but its immediateobject is to serve to add a speedometer to the well known Fordautomobile. In some of these vehicles a tank is placed so closelyadjacent the instrument board that there is insuflicient space for thelocation of a speedometer between the board and the tank. It is proposodto locate the speedometer wholly or partly below the board where morespace is available. The means for locating the speedometer consists of aplate serving to s'uppiement the instrument carrying panel on the carwhereby in a most convenient way a double panel may be used toaccommodate the several instruments with substantially no change in theboard.

For a full understandin of the invention reference is made to theollowing descriptien and the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is afront elevation of the instrument board with the panel and instrumentshown therein. Figure 2 represents in a similar view a modified form.Figure 3 is a vertical section on line 33 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is avertical section on line 44 of Figure 2. Figure 5 is a plan view of thesupplemental panel detached.

Referring to the drawing, and particularly to Figures 1 and 3, thenumeral 1 represents the instrument board of the Ford automobile. In thecar as equipped there are on this instrument board two instrw ments, aswitch 3 and an ammeter 4. These instruments project f0rwardly throughopenings in the board and are mounted in a panel or plate 5 secured tothe board. It is very desirable to add to the board a speedometer and itis in connection with such an addition that this invention is moreparticularly dixected.

The instrument board has a raisedportion 2 of general oval shape. Fromthis on the car which carries the two instrumonts mentioned, and in theposition occupied by this Ford panel is placed a supplemental panel 9corresponding in shape at its upper 'part to the Ford panel but beingelongated and extending below the board.

This supplemental panel is apertured as at 6 to receive the instruments3 and 4:. The instrument panel 5 with its two instruments 3 and 4 isthen placed over the supplemental panel in its former position andsecured to the instrument board by fastening means 7, With thesupplemental panel between it and the instrument board. The lower end ofthe supplemental panel carries through an opening 8 theren a speedometer10 of well known type. The instrument board is shown as eut away at itslower edge to receive the speedometer (see Figure 1 and Figure 3). By amodified form (Figure 2 and Figure 4), if it be desired to bring thespeedometer lower down or to avoid cutting or mutilating the instrumentboard the supplemental panel is made longer so that the speedomoter lieswholly below the board. By the provision of this supplemental panel asymmetrical assembly of the several instruments is obtained. Thespeedometer is located in a position where it occu pies ample space, andthe change is accomplished with little or no change in the instrumentboard.

I claim:

The combination With an instrument board having therein normally aplurality of apertures adapted to receive instruments, of an adapterplate having apertures intended to register With the apertures nor mallyexisting in the instrument board and having also an aperture intended toreceive an additional instrument, said adapter plate being placedadjacent to the instrument board and a closing plate normally carrying aplurality et instruments adapted to be atu1e. ION.

